LINDSBORG - Former baseball player Darryl Strawberry had the "sweetest swing in baseball" before his status quickly fell.

Thursday

Oct 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 30, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Kristen Roderick - The Hutchinson News - kroderick@hutchnews.com

Dana Fielding knew how he felt after her first art exhibit was a success, but her second was a flop.

This is where the audience of "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball" will meet her when the play is performed tonight at the Burnett Center. The lead character, Dana, is played by Bethany College freshman Heather Calhoun.

"She's taking on a very difficult and challenging role," said director Greg LeGault, associate professor of theater at Bethany College. "I think she's meeting that challenge."

As her personal life is also in turmoil, Dana unsuccessfully attempts suicide, which lands her in a psychiatric ward.

Through conversations with patients in the ward, she learns about multiple personality disorders.

She also reads the autobiography of Darryl Strawberry.

Her insurance won't pay for more than a week in the psychiatric ward, yet she has found comfort there, so she takes on the personality of the former major leaguer.

LeGault said at this point, it's up to the audience to ponder what's going on.

Is Dana really taking on his personality? Or is she just trying to convince doctors? Or does she find it a way to face the world?

"Sometimes it's easier to say and do things behind a mask, so to speak," LeGault said. "It's a comedy drama. There's a lot of wonderful humor in the play, but it also takes a very serious look at some of these other issues."

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If you go:

What: "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball"

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Burnett Center in Lindsborg

Tickets: $7; free for Bethany College students, faculty and staff

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